The International Advisory Board for the Nature, Culture, and Design (NCD) 2015 project recently convened in New York City to discuss the progress of one of the world’s largest mixed-use development projects being planned on the outskirts of Seoul in Guri City. The multibillion-dollar development project, called the Nature Culture and Design (NCD), will include the Guri World Design Center, an exposition center, hotels, retail, condominiums, single-family homes, foreigners commercial zone, design graduate school, cultural centers, and much more.

The primary purpose of the group is to provide the Korean government with insight and guidance on the development of the Guri World Design Center and architecture and development from a global perspective.

In attendance, were Guri City mayor Young Sun Park, Steve Lim Chairman and CEO of Viva Vina, Inc located in Los Angeles, California, and Chang Kuk Ko, president of K&C Associates of Seoul, Korea. “We intend to transform Guri City to Asia’s leading destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE). Sustainable design will be an overriding initiative as we build for the future,” says Mayor Park.

Presenters at the meeting shared compelling data to support Guri City as an ideal location to build a design hub and destination in Asia. With 60 percent of the world’s population within six hours of Seoul and an impressive growth in exports, reflected in statistics that show 1962 exports at $50 million, and today’s exports at more than $500 billion, Guri City seems poised to support and grow a center of this magnitude.